Massage therapy restores peripheral vascular function after exertion.
METHODS:
The purpose of this study was to determine if lower extremity exercise-induced muscle injury reduces vascular function of the upper extremity and if massage therapy improves peripheral vascular function after exertion-induced muscle injury.
Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was determined by ultrasound at each time point. Nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced dilation was also assessed (0.4 mg).
RESULTS:
The massage therapy only group had increased brachial artery flow at 90 minutes and remained elevated until 72 hours.
The exertion induced muscle injury only group, had decreased brachial artery flow (FMD) from baseline at 24 and 48 hours but returned to baseline after 72 hours.
Dilations of NTG were similar over time.
Franklin NCl, Ali MM, Robinson ATl, Norkeviciute , Phillips SN.
34. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.02.007. Epub 2014